Maskharat. Masks, Identities, Projections

Masquerade has been a means of cultural and political expression since time immemorial. It is both keen, cutting criticism and appealing, buoyant joke. In Arabic, Maskharat means fool, buffoonery or joke and highlights the action connected to masquerade. Masks are means of transformation and enable passing social stereotypes, gender roles or cultural conventions.

The mask is a form of distinction, an “in-between”, that separates and connects two sides at the same time. A notion of the “unite opposite” (Hölderlin). Maskharat suggests a constant alterability of identities. Masks rewrite social and gender conventions.

The core oft he project Maskharat forms an exhibition of contemporary positions. Two artistic productions by the groups Puppet in a Box and The Set will be exhibited at Künstlerhaus. Madeleine Bernstorff will compose a film program. On December 1, there will be a large de-masquerade ball including several performances. An accompanying exhibition catalogue is available at Künstlerhaus.